Combination marker and flower holder



E. c. BRONSON 2,255,277

COMBINATION MARKER AND FLOWER HOLDER Filed Aug. 14, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 G, i Q. 4mm Emewsm flflmnsm i r l (K 1 W E5, v=z c g w m m .6 k 7 L 1W W m U Sept. 9, 1941.

Sept. 9, 1941. E. c. BRONSON COMBINATION MARKER AND FLOWER HOLDER Filed Aug. 14, 1939 2 Sheets-:Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 9, 1941 OFFICE coivmms'riou MARKER AND FLOWER. HOLDER Emerson C. Bronson, Omro, Wis.

Application August 14, 1939, Serial No. 290,096

2 Claims.

This invention relates to morticians supplies, and refers particularly to a combined grave marker and flower holder.

In general, the invention is embodied in an outer casing adapted to be sunk into the ground and having a hinged cover, the outer face of which carries suitable marking indicia, and a flower vase of a size to fit wholly within the casing to be concealed when not in use and to be supported in an upright position projecting from the open top of the casing when in use.

When the flower vase is not being used, the marking tablet carried by the hinged cover lies flush with the surface of the ground and its indicia is readily readable. When the device is being used to display flowers, it is desirable that the indicia be likewise readable, and to this end, the present invention has as one of its objects to provide means whereby the hinged cover will be positively held in an upright position slanted slightly toward closure to insure the indicia being readily readable when the cover is in this position.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of cooperating means on the flower vase and the hinged cover for supporting the vase at the proper elevation and for positively holding the cover in its desired upright position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combined flower holder and marker of the character described wherein the marking indicia is carried by a plate or tablet removably mounted on the hinged cover, and wherein the means for removably securing the tablet in place constitutes part of the cooperating means for holding the cover in upright position and for supporting the flower vase at the desired elevation.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one complete example of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed in accordance with the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combined 55 marker and shower holder constructed in accordance with this invention, parts thereof being broken away;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the upper end portion of the combined marker and flower holder, illustrating the manner in' which the flower vase and cover are held in upright position for displaying flowers;

Figure 3 is a side View of the unit with the parts in the positions shown in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken through Figure 3 on the plane of the line 4.4.

Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 5 designates an outer casing adapted to be sunk into the ground with the top thereof substantially flush with the surface of the ground. The casing is preferably formed of sheet metal, and in the present instance is rectangular in cross section. Its top and bottom are open, and near the bottom, the side walls thereof are joined by a reinforcing cross piece 6 which also serves to support a flower vase 1 wholly concealed within the casing.

The open top of the casing is closed by a cover 8 hinged to one side wall of the casing, as at 9.

Marking indicia I0 is carried by the cover in a manner to be readable when the cover is swung to an upright position, shown in Figures 2 and 3, as well as when the cover is in its horizontal closed position.

Upon opening the cover, the vase i, which like the casing is preferably formed of sheet metal and has a substantially rectangular cross section, may be removed from the casing. When not in use, the vase is concealed wholly within the casing and is placed therein preferably in an inverted position so that moisture will not accumulate therein and cause the same to rust and deteriorate.

As hereinbefore stated, the vase rests on the cross piece 6 which supports the same in a position at which a perimetrical flange H at the bottom of the vase is located to be readily grasped for removal of the vase. To permit the flange to be grasped, the Vase is suificicntly smaller than the casing to enable the insertion of at least one finger between the inner wall of the casing and the outer surface of the vase. This manner of removing the vase is utilized in preference to the provision of a handle as it reduces the possibility of unauthorized lifting of the vase out of its casing.

Another advantage of having the portion of the vase to be grasped during removal of the vase in the form of a flange resides in the fact that snails will not congregate on the edge of the flange as they would on a flat surface.

When it is desired to use the vase for the display of flowers, it is removed from the casing and reinserted in an upright position until a hook l2 on the side of the vase engages over a strap or bar 13 on the back of the cover. In this manner, the vase is supported with its open top above the surface of the ground, and the cover is positively held in an upright position. By virtue of the rather substantial clearance between the sides of the vase and the outer casing, the vase assumes an inclined position when supported from the cover, and the cover is held slightly inclined to facilitate the reading of the indioia carried thereby.

The indicia is on a plate or tablet M removably clamped to the back of the cover, which is in the form of a frame. The manner in which the name plate or tablet is removably secured in position is best illustrated in Figure 4.

As here shown, the bar [3 is secured to the back of the frame-like cover by screws 15, which pass through spacers l5 located between the bar and the back of the cover and which hold the bar spaced from the cover. These parts are so dimensioned that the bar bears against tits [6 projecting from the back of the name plate, whereby tightening of the screws l5 securely clamps the plate in place. The bar I3 thus not only serves as-part of the cooperating means carried by the cover and the vase for supporting the vase and cover, but also acts to removably hold the name plate in place.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent that this invention provides a substantial improvement in devices of this nature, particularly in that it insures having the cover positively held in an upright position during the time the device is being used to display flowers.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A combined marker and flower holder comprising: a sheet metal outer casing open at its top; a cover hinged thereto, said cover having marking indicia on its outer face so positioned as to be readable when the cover is in a horizontal position, and also when it is swung to an upright open position; a flower vase of a size to fit wholly within said casing; a brace connecting two opposite side walls at the bottom of the receptacle and serving as a support for the vase when the same is positioned wholly within the casing; a hook on the side of the flower vase; and a support on the inner face of the cover engageable by said hook so that the cover is positively held in an upright position and the vase is supported in an elevated upright position.

2. In a combined marker and flower holder of the character described: an outer casing having a hinged cover, said hinged cover comprising, an outer frame and an inner removable tablet Ibearing marking indicia; means for removably clamping said tablet to the cover frame including, a cross bar secured to the inner face of the frame and bearing against the back of the tablet; a flower vase of a size to fit wholly within the casing; and a hook on the flower vase to engage over said clamping bar on the cover and thereby hold the cover in an upright position, and also support the vase in an upright position with the upper open end thereof projecting above the:

casing.

EMERSON C. BRONSON. 

